3/5

If you're looking for a fast, cute, enemies to lovers, fashion and book set in Rome, this book is for you.

I enjoyed this book. Violet got on my nerves quite a bit and I felt like the ending was rushes but I did like learning about the fashion and the embarrassing meet-cute at the coffee shop. Violet had to navigate work friendships and chasing her dreams. I really liked her relationship with her sister. Some of the characters seemed immature and I wish there was more of a backstory for Marco as he was my favorite character.

Overall, this book is great if you're looking for a funny, sweet and adventurous rom com with lots of fashion and a feel good ending!

Violet is one of three interns spending the summer in Rome, working for a design studio. After a mishap, she meets Matteo, who also happens to be the son of her professor. Through their adventures, Violet tried to deny their chemistry. But when the summer internship comes to a close, she has some important decisions to make about both her career, and her potential with Matteo.

I read Talk Bookish to Me by Kate Bromley previously, and I loved it, so I was excited to see her newest book available on NetGalley. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t give me the same experience the last one did. Although the story was cute, and I loved the fashion design perspective, it felt like it was trying to cover too many different things. Some plot lines just fell flat, and I didn’t really feel a lot of chemistry between the characters.

I’m not going to give up on Kate Bromley yet, but this just wasn’t my favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy of this book.

The novel relies on the romance and chemistry of two characters who have neither. The author simply failed to create believable or likeable characters.

Violet can only be described as immature.

Read this if you're looking for an Italian summer vacay!

Synopsis:
With her thirties rapidly approaching and a mountain of student debt looming over her, Violet Luciano’s dream of finishing design school and working in fashion has cost her everything. So when she lands an internship at an up-and-coming fashion brand in Rome, she brings her A game to Italy. With nothing left to lose, Violet plans to win the competition among the interns for the ultimate prize—a job at a New York label.
But when a coffee run goes wrong and Violet accidentally destroys a stranger’s laptop, all of the apology Americanos in the world won’t help her. Because it turns out that the man from the café is Matteo, her professor’s eternally grumpy son, who thinks she’s a clumsy American…and maybe a stalker. Their animosity (and undeniable chemistry) grows as together they’re forced to face a summer of chic parties, adventures through Rome and sharing a home…with the person they can’t stand the most.
The more time she spends with him, the more distracted she finds herself. With her chance to win the competition slipping out of her grasp, Violet has to decide whether to say ciao to Matteo—or ciao to her dreams.

I absolutely adore Kate Bromleys books! I love the sweet but fiery characters, and the always dreamy settings! This book was no exception. Think 'Emily In Paris' but Italy! This book has grumpy/sunshine characters, enemies to lovers, and lots of fashion!

Overall this book was super fun and it was a great addition to my summer TBR!

Thanks to NetGalley for my gifted copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
Ciao for Now is a cute rom com with witty banter set in Rome. The tension between Violet and Matt is palpable at first. Enemies from the start they find, to their surprise, that they are living in the same apartment! Violet turns out to be one of the design interns that Matt’s mother is hosting. Being in close quarters, creates opportunities for witty banter and endless opportunities for jabs. However, something changes and they have to navigate how to move forward and what they want to future to look like.
Cute book, easy read, moderate spice. 3.5 stars rounded up.

I liked this story! I didn't care for the characters, though. I think the side characters were more interesting, and I'd like to hear more from them.


I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Okay this was the perfect summer read. It had me dreaming of Italy. The friendships, the fashion, the romance, the Lizzy McGuire references…it was all perfect! Slightly steamy with plenty of banter and real relationship development. Thoroughly enjoyed!

Violet wants nothing more than to win a competition and the right to work at an established fashion label in New York. Her arrival in Italy is met with a mini disaster resulting in her new nemesis being none other than the son of her host. Unfortunately, he's got a huge chip on his shoulder but is also kind of attractive and Violet's love life is the least of her concerns.
Kate's settings are probably the best part of her books. I love destination romances and traveling through an author's fun romance. She has a great sense of humor and a diverting way of entertaining me. This one was maybe not as funny as her first but again makes me look forward to her next release.
Thank you to HTP and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Special thanks to Harlequin Trade for whisking me away on a delightful adventure to Italy and in particular Capri.

We follow the journey of Violet, a talented student fashion designer who lands an incredible opportunity - a month-long escapade to Italy! As one of the top three finalists in a prestigious fashion program, she's about to immerse herself in the enchanting world of Italian fashion. Working at a luxurious fashion house and honing her craft, Violet strives to create a dazzling fashion line that could pave her way to success. The stakes are high, and if she wins, her dream job at the Fashion House awaits!

Now, I must admit, the story initially unfolded at a leisurely pace, but hold tight, because the intrigue sneaks up on you after the halfway mark.

This book is the perfect companion for your vacation, offering a delightful and entertaining read that will leave you with a heartwarming afterglow. The sweetness of the tale will undoubtedly warm your soul and leave you with a contented smile.

After immersing myself in this delightful tale, I can't help but long to set foot on that alluring island, adding it to the very top of my bucket list.

In conclusion, "Ciao for Now" is wonderful, and I wholeheartedly recommend it as a delightful let this charming story transport you to the world of fashion, love, and the wonders of Italy!

This book is just hilarious and beautiful! I loved her first novel and knew that the same wit and charm would be back. I’d highly recommend to rom-com fans it will not disappoint.

The best parts of this book were when they were directly related to being in Italy. Most of the book could have been set anywhere unfortunately and I wish there was more about Italy in it. The romance banter was cute and I needed more! This was one of those books where I was a bit bored and skimming at times just to get to the romance parts.

Violet chose to pursue fashion as a career, something her family (and even me as an individual) do not understand the way she wants them to. Although I do not understand haute couture, I actually ended up liking the job/internship aspect the best in the book. Violet puts up a good fight and the right amount of effort, even as she is distracted by her own small meet cute, which turns into something more.
The blurb online touts the romantic aspect of the narrative more than the other bigger half of the book, but the fight that Violet has on her hands is even more personal than that.
She started on this journey later than the others, and she wants to ensure that this internship turns into something more. A professor is hosting her and two of her fellow interns, which definitely helps while living abroad.
I liked the overall outlook of our primary characters, the work that they end up doing, and the way things ended.
It is once again a book where I felt like the lack of a romantic angle would not have done much harm to the story as a whole. I know that a happily-ever-after usually accompanies growth arcs of this kind on the personal front (non-profession related), but I would have enjoyed this even more if the focus was entirely on the profession and the issues that came with it.
I would recommend this to fans of this genre, the writing is smooth, and I managed to read it in very few sittings.
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great summery vacation book!

LOVED the setting of this one so much. I'm always looking for summer books set in France or Italy and this delivered!

This is an enemies to lovers romance. Violet is in Rome on a fashion design internship for the summer. She meets Matt, who turns out to be living in the house where she’s staying, in a very awkward fashion. They are definitely not impressed with each other initially. As we are treated to great descriptions of Rome and Italy the two main characters slowly grow closer. I really enjoyed this book. The character and story development worked well and I was happily transported into these characters lives. There are some great secondary characters too. Kate Bromley has definitely become an auto read author for me. Make sure to add this to your summer reading list.

A huge thank you to Kate Bromley, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This book will transport you straight to Italy with Violetta, Holly and Marco on their at times high strung fashion contest. Kate Bromley gave us a plethora of characters to fall in love with right from the beginning and a backdrop to die for. If you don't put Ciao For Now immediately wanting to travel to Italy you read it wrong. 
Lets not forget about the romantic comedy aspect of it as well, who doesn't love that? This is what kept me going, wanting more, needing to know what came next. Enemies to lovers, all the cocky banter between Violette and Matt was to die for. Also his hatred for GREG!!!! I would LOVE to see this as a netflix original! It would be phenomenal. I didn't want the book to end at all! I still want more!!!! 
My favorite quote (which I don't do often, but it reminds me of my husband) "Love isn't something that you find or that finds you, love is something you gift yourself. You design it. You decide who you are going to love and who will have the privilege of loving you back."
Read Ciao For Now, you won't regret it!

Ciao For Now by Kate Bromley reminded me of traveling through Rome, Italy. I loved Italy and Rome so much! This is also my favorite trope, enemies-to-lovers! Violet is a fashion student who is in Rome with two others from her fashion cohort. Violet crashes into a handsome stranger during her first day in Rome and destroys his laptop with spilled coffee. This handsome stranger ends up being Matteo, the son of her host in Italy. This story was enjoyable, and I appreciate how it touches on discovering your best self, mental health, and finding a place for love.

Thank you, Graydon House, for my complimentary copy for my honest review.

ciao for now was fun and witty, everything i’m looking for in a summer beach read! i have never been to europe, but i felt like i was strutting through the streets of rome with violet. their romance was filled with the perfect kind of tension

i was so lucky to be a part of both @uplitreads & @booksparks #booksandrec #src2023 - thank you both for gifting me copies of this one!

i LOVED the italian adventures, fashion/style references, & the grumpy x sunshine romance!! it was so fun to follow these characters from New York to Italy!

Ultimately this one felt like a snooze for me and I just didn’t connect. I am not the biggest fashionista or world traveler though, so maybe that was why

what a precious and fun read!! i am always so thankful to netgalley for giving me access to books before they come out. this was such an enjoying read! you should definitely check it out when it comes out!!!